Caddy for spooled materials

ABSTRACT

The caddy for spooled materials facilitates the removal and installation of spools of coiled materials (wire, cable, rope, cord, chain, etc.) within the device, while positively retaining the spools as material is withdrawn. The caddy includes a pair of opposed lateral frame members having a series of fixed crossmembers therebetween, which define a spool retaining cradle therein. A pivotally mounted arm extends from each frame member adjacent the first or rear fixed crossmember, with a spool retaining crossmember connecting the distal ends of the arms. When the movable crossmember is raised, sufficient room is provided between the first fixed crossmember and movable crossmember to allow a spool to be placed within or removed from the caddy. However, when the movable crossmember is lowered, the space between the first fixed crossmember and movable crossmember is reduced to less than the diameter of the spool, thereby securing the spool in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/740,628, filed Nov. 30, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to devices for storing, holdingand dispensing various articles. More specifically, the presentinvention is a caddy or stand for holding one or more spools or reels ofcoiled or spooled material (e.g., electrical wire, cord, cable, etc.)thereon, and dispensing the material as required.

2. Description of the Related Art

Workers in many fields have need to deploy and install relatively longlengths of coiled material, e.g., electrical wiring, cables, ropes andchains, etc. Such materials are customarily provided on spools or reels,and unwound from the spool or reel as needed. As a result, variousdevices have been developed in the past for holding such spools in placeas wire, cord, cable, chain, etc. is pulled from the spool. Most suchdevices employ an axle, which passes through the hollow core of thespool or reel, with the spool rotating about the axle as the material isdispensed from the reel. This retention principle has the advantage ofpositively retaining the spools on the carrier or caddy by means of theaxle passing through the center of the spool.

However, such devices are not without their problems. One problem thatis universal to such devices is the need to remove the axle from thecarrier in order to remove and replace a spool or reel thereon. If thecarrier is relatively wide and capable of carrying multiple spools on asingle axle, the removal and replacement process may be even morecomplex due to the need to remove one or more spools from the axle inorder to access a central spool requiring removal or replacement.Moreover, such devices allow the spool to revolve freely upon the axle,with little braking effect as the elongate material is pulled from thespool. This can lead to the spool continuing to rotate after the workerhas drawn all of the material needed, resulting in a tangle of cord,wire, etc.

Some spool and reel holders have been developed that support the outercircumference of the spool, thus obviating the problem of the axlethrough the spool or reel. A common problem with such devices is thelack of positive retention of the reel or spool within the holder.Spools carrying relatively lightweight and/or stiff materials can bepulled from the holder when a worker pulls a length of material from thespool.

As a result, some spool holders have been developed that include apositionable crossmember, which bears against the spool to retain thespool positively within the holder when material is drawn from thespool. Most such devices utilize rectilinear crossmembers having theirends captured in slots in the side walls of the holder, rather thanswinging or pivoting the crossmember clear of the spool for installingand removing a spool from the holder. Such a configuration also requiressprings to urge the crossmember against the edge of the spool, in orderto retain the spool positively within the holder. Of this class ofdevice, only a single holder is known to the present inventor, whichpivots the retaining crossmember arcuately upon a pair of arms. Thegeometry of this device also requires a spring(s) to hold thecrossmember in place in order to retain a spool(s) within the holder.

Thus, a caddy for spooled materials solving the aforementioned problemsis desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The caddy for spooled materials provides for ease of removal andreplacement of spools or reels of spooled materials therein (e.g., wire,rope, cord, cable, chain, etc.), while also positively retaining thespools or reels within the caddy. The geometry of the caddy for spooledmaterials results in greater retaining force upon the spools or reelsheld in the device, with greater tensile force upon the material beingdrawn from a spool.

The device essentially comprises a pair of parallel frame members with aseries of three fixed crossmembers extending therebetween. The fixedcrossmembers define a spool holding cradle, with the width of the devicebeing adaptable to hold one or more spools of material side by side, asdesired. A pivotally mounted arm extends from each side of the cradle,with the distal ends of the arms having a spool-retaining crossmembertherebetween. The spool-retaining crossmember is positioned to theopposite side of the cradle from the pivot points for the arms. When thecrossmember is raised, sufficient room is provided between the first orrear fixed crossmember and the movable crossmember to allow a spool ofmaterial to be placed within or removed from the caddy. However, whenthe crossmember is lowered, the space between the first fixedcrossmember and the movable crossmember is reduced to less than thediameter of the spool, thereby securing the spool in place. The materialon the spool is routed over the top of the lowered movable crossmember,thereby urging the crossmember downward to retain the spool even moresecurely when tension is applied to the material being withdrawn fromthe spool. Various embodiments are disclosed herein, including holdersfor single and multiple rows of spools, handles and wheels to facilitatetransport particularly of larger multiple spool configurations, etc.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a caddy for spooled materials accordingto the present invention, showing various features thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the caddy for spooled materialsaccording to the present invention, showing the installation and removalof a spool therefrom and the operation of the spool retaining apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a caddy forspooled materials according to the present invention, including aplurality of spool holder rows.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises various embodiments of a caddy forspooled materials, such as spools of wire, cable, rope, cord, chain,etc., as desired. The caddy may be constructed to have a singlespool-containing row of one or more spools, or multiple rows, asdesired. The configuration of the caddy for spooled materials allowsspools of coiled material to be placed in the device through a spoolinsertion and removal area provided when the spool retaining crossmemberis raised, with the arm automatically reducing the area to smaller thanthe diameter of the spool when the crossmember is lowered to retain aspool(s) within the caddy.

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, respectively, provide perspective andside elevation views of a first embodiment of the present caddy forspooled materials 10, with the caddy 10 having only a single lateralspool-containing row. The caddy 10 includes laterally opposed and spacedapart longitudinal first and second frame members 12 a and 12 b,respectively, with each frame member further having a first or forwardend 14 a, 14 b, respectively, and an opposite second or rearward end 16a, 16 b, respectively. The forward and rearward ends 14 a, 14 b, 16 a,and 16 b may comprise downwardly turned legs, if so desired, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the term “forward” in the presentdisclosure refers to the direction of dispensing of coiled materialsfrom any spool(s) contained within the present caddy 10, with the term“rearward” referring to the opposite direction.

A first or front crossmember 18 is rigidly and immovably affixed betweenthe two frame members 12 a and 12 b, with a substantially parallelsecond or rear crossmember 20 also being rigidly and immovably affixedbetween the two frame members. The front and rear crossmembers 18 and 20are spaced apart longitudinally from one another and define a spoolplane P therebetween (shown in FIG. 2), with the spool plane P beingcoplanar with the frame members 12 a and 12 b and lying generallythrough, or close to, the axial center and maximum diametric width of aspool of material S placed within the device 10. The span or distancebetween the two crossmembers 18 and 20 also defines a spool retainingspan R therebetween, with the span R being at least the same as, orslightly greater than, the diameter D of a conventional spool ofmaterial S placed therein.

A central crossmember 22 is also rigidly and immovably affixed betweenthe two longitudinal frame members 12 a and 12 b, generally between andsubstantially parallel to the forward and rearward crossmembers 18 and20. However, the central crossmember 22 is displaced below the spoolplane P, with the three crossmembers 18, 20, and 22 defining a spoolcradle 24 therein for locating and containing one or more spools Stherein. The central crossmember 22 is carried between first and seconddepending central crossmember attachment flanges 26 a and 26 b, whichextend from the respective frame members 12 a, 12 b between the forwardand rearward crossmembers 18 and 20.

The rearward and central crossmembers 20 and 22 may also include aseries of roller sleeves installed concentrically thereon, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The roller sleeves facilitate rotation of the spools Swithin the cradle or caddy, by rolling or rotating with the rims of thespools as they rotate within the caddy as material is dispensed. Theroller sleeves of the rearward crossmember 20 are designated as rollers21 a, 21 b, and 21 c, while the roller sleeves of the centralcrossmember 22 are designated as 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c. It will be seenthat each roller sleeve has a length corresponding to the length of thespool S that rides upon that sleeve, with the number of sleeves on eachcrossmember 20 and 22 corresponding to the number of spools S that maybe carried or held by the caddy. Thus, each spool S rotates or rollswithin the caddy upon its own separate roller sleeve pair, independentlyof the other spools, in order that the other spools will not rotatesimultaneously with the material dispensing spool as material is drawntherefrom.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the rollers are installed only uponthe rear and central crossmembers 20 and 22. This is because as materialis pulled from the spool(s) S. the spool(s) are urged upwardly and tothe rear, thereby placing more force on the rear and centralcrossmembers 20 and 22 than upon the forward crossmember 18. However, itwill be seen that additional roller sleeves (not shown) may be installedupon the forward crossmember 18, if so desired. It should also be notedthat while such roller sleeves are not shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3(discussed further below), such sleeves may be installed upon thevarious crossmembers of the embodiment of FIG. 3, if so desired.

First and second elongate spool retaining arms 28 a and 28 b,respectively, extend from the respective frame members 12 a, 12 brearwardly of the rear crossmember 20, i.e., between the crossmember 20and the rearward ends 16 a, 16 b of the frame members. The retainingarms 28 a, 28 b each have a frame attachment end 30 a, 30 b,respectively, pivotally secured to the respective frame member by apivot 32 a, 32 b. The distal ends 34 a, 34 b include a spool-retainingarm crossmember 36 extending therebetween, with the lengths 38 of thearms 28 a, 28 b between their pivots 32 a, 32 b and the crossmember 36being at least slightly greater than the spool retaining span R betweenthe front and rear crossmembers 18 and 20 and the diameter D of aconventional spool S. The spool-retaining arm crossmember 36 may includea roller or sleeve 40 therearound (shown in broken lines in FIG. 2) tofacilitate the deployment of a length of material passing thereover froma spool contained within the device.

It will be noted that as the two spool-retaining arms 28 a, 28 b arepivotally secured to their respective frame members 12 a, 12 b at points32 a, 32 b behind the rear crossmember 20, that the span between therear crossmember 20 and the distal spool-retaining arm crossmember 36will vary with the position of the two arms 28 a, 28 b and theircrossmember 36. FIG. 2 shows this clearly. In FIG. 2, the raisedposition of the two arms (shown by the arm 28 b in broken lines)provides a span equal to the length 38 of the arms between their pivotpoints 32 a, 32 b and their opposite distal spool-retaining crossmember36, with this length or span 38 being at least slightly larger than thediameter D of a conventional spool S to be placed within the caddy 10.However, when the arms 28 a, 28 b are lowered to their spool retainingposition (shown by the single arm 28 b in solid lines in FIG. 2), thespan 44 between the rear fixed crossmember 20 and the distalspool-retaining crossmember 36 is reduced somewhat as the crossmember 36approaches the two frame members 12 a, 12 b, due to the rearwarddisplacement of the arm pivot points 32 a, 32 b relative to the locationof the rear crossmember 20. This reduced span 44 is somewhat less thanthe diameter D of a spool S or the spool retaining span R between theforward and rearward fixed crossmembers 18 and 20. Thus, a spool Shaving a conventional diameter D is securely retained within the caddy10 when it is placed within the spool cradle area 24 and thespool-retaining crossmember 36 is lowered.

The caddy 10 is used generally as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Thetwo spool-retaining arms 28 a, 28 b and their spool-retainingcrossmember 36 are raised to increase the span 38 to allow a spool S tobe inserted between the fixed rear crossmember 20 and thespool-retaining crossmember 36, and into the spool retaining cradle area24 of the caddy 10. The elongate material (e.g., wire, cable, rope,cord, etc.) coiled on the spool S is passed over the top of thespool-retaining crossmember; there is no need to thread the end of thematerial through an eyelet or any other form of passage to install aspool of material in the caddy 10. Thus, if, e.g., a wiring project hasbegun and the dispensed end of the wire extending from the spool S isalready installed, the spool S may still be placed within the caddy 10without need to cut the wire in order to feed the end through someopening or passage in the caddy 10. When tension is applied to the wireor other elongate material extending from a spool S installed within thecaddy 10, the material applies a forward and downward pressure on thespool-retaining crossmember 36, thus resulting in greater retention ofthe spool(s) S within the caddy 10.

Preferably, the downward movement of the arms 28 a, 28 b and theirspool-retaining crossmember 36 (and roller or sleeve 40, if provided) islimited in order to avoid bearing against the edge(s) of the spool(s) Scontained within the caddy 10 in order to avoid excessive binding andfriction upon the edge(s) of the spool(s). Such limit may be provided bya lateral stop 46 a, 46 b extending outwardly from the respective framemembers 12 a, 12 b. The arms 28 a, 28 b encounter the respective stops46 a 46 b just before the retaining arm crossmember 36 (or itssurrounding roller or sleeve 40) contacts the edge of the spool(s) S,leaving a clearance gap 48 between the spool(s) and the crossmember 36.This allows the spool(s) S to rotate reasonably freely within the caddy10, while still positioning the crossmember 36 sufficiently low as toretain the spool(s) S securely within the caddy 10. Depending upon therelative geometry of the fixed rear crossmember 20, the arm pivots 32 aand 32 b, and the length or span 38 of the arms 28 a and 28 b, the stops46 a, 46 b may be provided by outward extensions of the fixed rearcrossmember 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or may alternatively beinstalled elsewhere on the two frame members 12 a, 12 b.

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thepresent caddy for spooled materials, designated as caddy 110. The caddy110 is essentially a multiple row configuration of the single row caddyconfiguration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and described above. Thecaddy 110 includes a pair of opposed elongate frame members 112 a and112 b, with depending front legs 114 a, 114 b and opposite rear legs 116a, 116 b. However, rather than having only a single fixed frontcrossmember, rear crossmember, and central crossmember, the caddy 110includes a series of front crossmembers 118 a, 118 b, and 118 c, acorresponding series of rear crossmembers 120 a, 120 b, and 120 c, and acorresponding series of central crossmembers 122 a, 122 b, and 122 c.The central crossmembers 122 a through 122 c are supported betweenopposed flanges 126 a through 126 f, which depend from the two framemembers 112 a and 112 b. Alternatively, a single elongate centralcrossmember support flange could be installed upon each frame member,rather than using a series of separate flanges, as shown in FIG. 3.

A corresponding series of spool retaining arms 128 a through 128 f ispivotally secured to the two frame members 112 a and 112 b, and servethe same function as the arms 28 a, 28 b for the single row embodimentof FIGS. 1 and 2. The arms 128 a through 128 f are pivotally secured toa series of three pivot rods 132 a through 132 c, with the rods 132 athrough 132 c being installed somewhat rearwardly of the respective rearfixed crossmembers 120 a through 120 c. Each pair of arms 128 a, 128 b;128 c, 128 d; and 128 e, 128 f, have a spool retaining crossmember 136 athrough 136 c, respectively, extending therebetween.

Each row of the multiple row spool caddy 110 will be seen to functionessentially identically to the single row caddy 10 embodiment of FIGS. 1and 2, with each row functioning independently of the others. Additionalfeatures, such as the arm stops 46 a, 46 b shown in FIG. 1, and/or thecrossmember roller or sleeve 40 shown in FIG. 2, may be applied to themultiple spool row configuration 110 of FIG. 3, as desired.

The spool caddy 110 of FIG. 3 is adapted for the simultaneous carriageof numerous spools of material. As these spools may weigh several poundswhen fully loaded (depending upon the material thereon), it will be seenthat the caddy 110 may have considerable mass when carrying a full loadof filled spools of e.g., wire, metal cable, chain, etc. Accordingly,some means to facilitate the transport of the caddy 110 may be provided,as desired. In FIG. 3, a handlebar 150 is shown as an optionalinstallation in broken lines, extending upwardly from the rearward ends116 a, 116 b of the two frame members 112 a, 112 b and extending thereacross. Further ease of transport may be provided by the installation offirst and second wheels, respectively 152 a and 152 b, upon the lowerends of the respective forward legs 114 a, 114 b of the caddy 110. Thisarrangement of the handlebar 150 at the rearward end of the device keepsthe forward end open for deployment of wire or other material from thespool(s) secured upon the caddy 110. Alternatively, the handle 150 andwheels 152 a, 152 b could be exchanged from end to end, if so desired,and other handle configurations may be provided as, desired.Alternatively, a fixed handle and/or wheels could be provided for thesingle spool row embodiment 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, if so desired.

In conclusion, the caddy for spooled materials, in its variousembodiments, greatly facilitates the work involved in the carriage,deployment, and installation of electrical wiring, cable, rope and cord,and various other elongate coiled or rolled materials carried on spools.The elimination of the central axle through the carrier or caddy greatlysimplifies the placement and removal of spools of material into and fromthe caddy, yet there is no need to route the wire (or other elongatematerial) through a guide, opening, or other passage in the caddy. Thewire or other material is merely passed over the top of the retainingarm crossmember, with tension on the wire or elongate material alsoapplying downward pressure on the crossmember to retain the spool(s)securely therein without need of further complications such as springsand other fasteners and retainers. The caddy is adaptable to expansion,as shown by the multiple row embodiment of FIG. 3, with wheels, ahandlebar(s), etc. further facilitating use of the device. Accordingly,the present caddy for spooled materials will prove to be a most popularaccessory for electricians and all others who have occasion to work withspooled materials.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A caddy for spooled materials, comprising: a longitudinal first framemember having a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end;a longitudinal second frame member having a forward end and a rearwardend opposite the forward end, the second frame member being spacedlaterally opposite the first frame member; at least one frontcrossmember and at least one rear crossmember immovably affixed betweenthe first frame member and the second frame member, each of thecrossmembers being spaced longitudinally from one another and defining agenerally diametric spool plane and spool retaining span therebetween;at least one central crossmember immovably affixed between the framemembers between the front crossmember and the rear crossmember anddisplaced below the spool plane, the corresponding front, rear, andcentral crossmembers defining a spool cradle therein; at least oneelongate first spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to the first framemember rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember; at least oneelongate second spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to the secondframe member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember, each ofthe spool-retaining arms having a frame attachment end and a distal endopposite the frame attachment end, and having a length greater than thespool retaining span of the front and rear crossmembers; and aspool-retaining arm crossmember extending between the distal end of thecorresponding first and second spool-retaining arms, each of thespool-retaining arm crossmembers and the corresponding rear crossmemberdefining a variable span therebetween; whereby each variable spandefines a width greater than a spool diameter for passage of a spooltherethrough when the corresponding spool-retaining arm crossmember israised, and defines a width narrower than the spool diameter forretention of a spool within the corresponding spool cradle when thecorresponding said spool retaining arm crossmember is lowered.
 2. Thecaddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, wherein: said at leastone front crossmember comprises a plurality of front crossmembers; saidat least one rear crossmember comprises a plurality of rearcrossmembers; said at least one central crossmember comprises aplurality of central crossmembers; said at least one firstspool-retaining arm comprises a plurality of first spool-retaining arms;said at least one second spool-retaining arm comprises a plurality ofsecond spool-retaining arms; and said at least one spool-retaining armcrossmember comprises a plurality of spool-retaining arm crossmembers.3. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, furtherincluding: a first central crossmember attachment flange depending fromsaid first frame member; and a second central crossmember attachmentflange depending from said second frame member, each of the centralcrossmembers extending between said first central crossmember attachmentflange and said second central crossmember attachment flange.
 4. Thecaddy for spooled materials according to claim 1, further including: atleast one first spool-retaining arm stop extending from said first framemember; and at least one second spool-retaining arm stop extending fromsaid second frame member.
 5. The caddy for spooled materials accordingto claim 1, further including a roller disposed about saidspool-retaining arm crossmember.
 6. The caddy for spooled materialsaccording to claim 1, further including: a first wheel depending fromthe forward end of said first frame member; and a second wheel dependingfrom the forward end of said second frame member.
 7. The caddy forspooled materials according to claim 1, further including a handleextending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame member andsaid second frame member.
 8. A caddy for spooled materials, comprising:a longitudinal first frame member having a forward end and a rearwardend opposite the forward end; a longitudinal second frame member havinga forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end, the secondframe member being spaced laterally opposite said first frame member; aplurality of front and rear crossmembers immovably affixed between thefirst and second frame members, each of the corresponding front and rearcrossmembers being spaced longitudinally from one another and defining agenerally diametric spool plane and spool retaining span therebetween; aplurality of central crossmembers immovably affixed between the framemembers between the corresponding front and rear crossmembers anddisplaced below the spool plane, each of the front, rear, and centralcrossmembers defining a spool cradle therein; a plurality of elongatefirst spool-retaining arms pivotally attached to the first frame memberrearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember; a plurality ofelongate second spool-retaining arms pivotally attached to the secondframe member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember, each ofthe spool-retaining arms having a frame attachment end and a distal endopposite the frame attachment end, and having a length greater than thespool retaining span of each of the corresponding front and rearcrossmembers; and a spool-retaining arm crossmember extending betweenthe distal end of the corresponding first and second spool-retainingarms, each of the spool-retaining arm crossmembers and the correspondingrear crossmember defining a variable span therebetween; whereby eachvariable span defines a width greater than a spool diameter for passageof a spool therethrough when the corresponding one of thespool-retaining arm crossmembers is raised, and further defines a widthnarrower than the spool diameter for retention of a spool within thecorresponding spool cradle when the corresponding one of thespool-retaining arm crossmembers is lowered.
 9. The caddy for spooledmaterials according to claim 8, further including: a first centralcrossmember attachment flange depending from said first frame member;and a second central crossmember attachment flange depending from saidsecond frame member, the central crossmembers extending between thefirst central crossmember attachment flange and the second centralcrossmember attachment flange.
 10. The caddy for spooled materialsaccording to claim 8, further including: a plurality of firstspool-retaining arm stops extending from said first frame member; and aplurality of second spool-retaining arm stops extending from said secondframe member.
 11. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim 8,further including a roller disposed about each of said spool-retainingarm crossmembers.
 12. The caddy for spooled materials according to claim8, further including: a first wheel depending from the forward end ofsaid first frame member; and a second wheel depending from the forwardend of said second frame member.
 13. The caddy for spooled materialsaccording to claim 8, further including a handle extending upwardly fromthe rearward end of said first frame member and said second framemember.
 14. A caddy for spooled materials in combination with at leastone spool of material, the combination comprising: a longitudinal firstframe member having a forward end and a rearward end opposite theforward end; a longitudinal second frame member having a forward end anda rearward end opposite the forward end, the second frame member beingspaced laterally opposite said first frame member; at least one frontcrossmember and at least one rear crossmember immovably affixed betweenthe first and second frame members, each of the crossmembers beingspaced longitudinally from one another and defining a generallydiametric spool plane and spool retaining span therebetween; at leastone central crossmember immovably affixed between each of the framemembers between the corresponding front and rear crossmembers anddisplaced below the spool plane, each of the front, rear, andcorresponding central crossmembers defining a spool cradle therein; atleast one elongate first spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to thefirst frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember; atleast one elongate second spool-retaining arm pivotally attached to thesecond frame member rearwardly of the corresponding rear crossmember,each of the spool-retaining arms having a frame attachment end and adistal end opposite the frame attachment end, and having a lengthgreater than the spool retaining span of the front and rearcrossmembers; a spool-retaining arm crossmember extending between thedistal end of the corresponding first and second spool retaining arm,each of the spool-retaining arm crossmembers and the rear crossmemberdefining a variable span therebetween; and at least one spool ofelongate material, the spool having a diameter; whereby each of thevariable spans define a width greater than the spool diameter forpassage of the at least one spool therethrough when the correspondingspool retaining arm crossmember is raised, and further defines a widthnarrower than the spool diameter for retention of the at least one spoolwithin the corresponding spool cradle when the correspondingspool-retaining arm crossmember is lowered.
 15. The caddy for spooledmaterials combination according to claim 14, wherein: said at least onefront crossmember comprises a plurality of front crossmembers; said atleast one rear crossmember comprises a plurality of rear crossmembers;said at least one central crossmember comprises a plurality of centralcrossmembers; said at least one first spool-retaining arm comprises aplurality of first spool-retaining arms; said at least one secondspool-retaining arm comprises a plurality of second spool-retainingarms; and said at least one spool-retaining arm crossmember comprises aplurality of spool-retaining arm crossmembers.
 16. The caddy for spooledmaterials combination according to claim 14, further including: a firstcentral crossmember attachment flange depending from said first framemember; and a second central crossmember attachment flange dependingfrom said second frame member, each of the central crossmembersextending between the first and second central crossmember attachmentflanges.
 17. The caddy for spooled materials combination according toclaim 14, further including: at least one first spool-retaining arm stopextending from said first frame member; and at least one secondspool-retaining arm stop extending from said second frame member. 18.The caddy for spooled materials combination according to claim 14,further including a roller disposed about said spool-retaining armcrossmember.
 19. The caddy for spooled materials combination accordingto claim 14, further including: a first wheel depending from the forwardend of said first frame member; and a second wheel depending from theforward end of said second frame member.
 20. The caddy for spooledmaterials combination according to claim 14, further including a handleextending upwardly from the rearward end of said first frame member andsaid second frame member.